Airbus and the Middle East benefit from their industrial cooperation

Airbus’ commitment to cooperating with developing aerospace markets around the world is highlighted this week at the Dubai Airshow, as the Middle East industry is playing a growing role in the company’s jetliners.

This includes partnerships with two United Arab Emirates-based companies: Strata, a Mubadala company; and Tawazun Precision Industries (TPI), a Tawazun subsidiary. Strata is supplying components for Airbus’ A330 widebody aircraft and its 21st century flagship A380 jetliner, while TPI is supplying parts for the A320 and A330.

Via this relationship, Airbus is supporting Abu Dhabi in its agenda to diversify the economy and create exciting opportunities for Emiratis in the aerospace industry, explained Paul Mohammed, Airbus’ Head of International Cooperation – Middle East and North Africa.

"Airbus places a strong emphasis on working alongside these two companies in the United Arab Emirates. Our partnership enables them to increase their knowledge, expertise and skills, and contributes to the region's continued impressive growth in the aerospace industry,” he said. “This is a win-win relationship, as such partnerships support Airbus in expanding its global industrial footprint and help to secure our position in this important market for new aircraft."

Located in Abu Dhabi’s inland city of Al Ain, Strata is a key Tier 1 partner for Airbus in the Middle East. The company handles composite work packages – providing ailerons, flap track fairings and spoilers for the widebody A330 Family, in addition to flap track fairings for A380 aircraft.

This year, Strata delivered its first shipset of fully self-assembled A330 ailerons to Airbus’ Bremen, Germany facility – marking a significant achievement as the UAE-based company became a direct A330 supplier for a key deliverable. The initial aileron shipset was mounted on an A330-200F delivered to UAE carrier Etihad Airways.

He noted that Abu Dhabi-based Tawazun Precision Industries (TPI) is an example of Airbus’ commitment to expanding this region’s skills – developing a partnership which has helped TPI develop metal machining capabilities for the aerospace industry. TPI now supplies fuselage components – including fuselage frames, fittings and other machined components – for A320 and A330 aircraft; along with titanium spars for the A330 ailerons.

Airbus’ industrial relationships extend past its direct involvement with Strata and TPI, with these two companies expanding their roles in the broader aerospace and Airbus supply chains.